Customer Reviews
NO GOOD FOR TEE-TOTALLERS! - By: L. Mueller, 14 Oct 2008 
This is a great book but if you, like me, cannot use alcohol evenin cooking (Yes, I KNOW the alcohol burns off, some of us shouldn't even taste it!) then the majority of the hot recipes you simply cannot make.
Delia does state that, for the cakes, orange juice can be used instead of liquour. But, otherwise, almost all the other dishes involving meat (aside from the traditional turkey, of course) are soakedin the stuff!
For that reason I recommend Nigella Lawson's 'Nigella Christmas' a little more. Nigella always tries to provide an alternative to the alcohol, something Delia doesn't do outside of the baking section. (But then we know Delia likes a drink!)
Having said that this is THE Christmas books for nibbles, canapes, party food, cold buffets, winter salads etc & THAT'S the reason it's ubiquitious over yuletidein bookshops. My Auntie, one of the best cooks on the planet, absolutely swears by her copy & that's reason enough to recommend, believe me. Merry Christmas.
Dame Delia Does it Best - By: D. Mcnally, 05 Oct 2008 
Long before cookery became the province of lifestyle gurus & policiticians Delia was out there doing what she does better than anyone who has come after her. With her no-nonsense, modest approach she taught a nation how to cook. Her Christmas book is a 5 star classic. Her instructions are detailed & fail-safe. When the pressure is on over Christmas there's nobody I'd trust more to get me through the festive period. She is the original domestic goddess!!
BEST CHOICE FOR SUPERB CHRISTMAS CAKES - By: Victoria Clark, 01 Sep 2008 I have had this book for a number of years now & the cakes I have made using the recipes have been outstanding! Everything is explained precisely the way it should be & the results are often better than expected. I would recommend this book 100% - especially if you are a lover of fruit cakes. I will be making my Christmas cake this year based on this recipe! Guaranteed to go down very well!
Classic Delia - before the frozen mash! - By: Giles Fullard, 27 Aug 2008 I start reading this about six weeks before Christmas when I make the Christmas pud & Cake. Along with 'The box of delights', this book is part of the perfect build up to Christmas. Admittedly I haven't tried all the recipes but if you want a blow by blow account of how to rustle up the perfect Christmas dinner plus other festive essentials then I commend this book to you.
A Christmas Cracker - By: Kate, 17 Mar 2008 As a Christmasaholic, I look forward to getting this book down from the shelf at the beginning of November, to start all the fun bits before the hassle starts. (Though you'll need plenty of spacein the freezer.)
I'd really recommend the Christmas chutney & the spiced apricot & orange chutney, sausage rolls, mincemeat & - best of all - the light glace fruit cake. So would all my friends & family! And there are some great veggie recipes.
Her Christmas lunch schedule, giving you all the timings, is brilliant, although you can actually do a lot more of it a day or soin advance to leave more time on the day.
I'd recommend this as a great present - but maybe not a Christmas present!
